diff --git a/src/__init__.py b/src/__init__.py
index c587c4977..143833714 100644
--- a/src/__init__.py
+++ b/src/__init__.py
@@ -16607,6 +16607,10 @@ def extractWORDS(self, delimiters=None):
                             and not mupdf.fz_is_infinite_rect(tp_rect)
                             ):
                         continue
+
+                    if buflen == 0 and ch.m_internal.c == 0x200d:
+                        # ZERO WIDTH JOINER cannot start a word
+                        continue
                     word_delimiter = JM_is_word_delimiter(ch.m_internal.c, delimiters)
                     this_char_rtl = JM_is_rtl_char(ch.m_internal.c)
                     if word_delimiter or this_char_rtl != last_char_rtl:
diff --git a/src/extra.i b/src/extra.i
index 986c88735..9d448dac1 100644
--- a/src/extra.i
+++ b/src/extra.i
@@ -3295,7 +3295,11 @@ PyObject* extractWORDS(mupdf::FzStextPage& this_tpage, PyObject *delimiters)
                 {
                     continue;
                 }
-
+                // prevent Unicode ZWJ 0x200d to start a word
+                if (buflen == 0 && ch.m_internal->c == 0x200d)
+                {
+                    continue;
+                }
                 int word_delimiter = JM_is_word_delimiter(ch.m_internal->c, delimiters);
                 int this_char_rtl = JM_is_rtl_char(ch.m_internal->c);
                 if (word_delimiter || this_char_rtl != last_char_rtl)
diff --git a/tests/resources/test_4716.pdf b/tests/resources/test_4716.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..25a9a57f5
Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/resources/test_4716.pdf differ
diff --git a/tests/test_4716.py b/tests/test_4716.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..09692277a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_4716.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+import pymupdf
+import os
+
+def test_4716():
+    """Confirm that ZERO WIDTH JOINER will never start a word."""
+    script_dir = os.path.dirname(__file__)
+    filename = os.path.join(script_dir, "resources", "test_4716.pdf")
+    doc = pymupdf.open(filename)
+    expected = set(["+25.00", "Любимый", "-10.00"])
+    word_text = set()
+    for page in doc:
+        words = page.get_text("words")
+        for w in words:
+            word_text.add(w[4])
+    assert word_text == expected